Temperatures Dip But Energy Conservation Still Necessary

Despite a slight dip in Southland temperatures and humidity levels, the manager of the state's power grid asked Californians to conserve power today, saying there is a "critical" need to do so to avoid power outages.

Temperatures in parts of the Southland again climbed into the triple digits, but were generally a couple of degrees lower than they have been, and the humidity that made the heat even harder to bear has dissipated somewhat in some parts of the region, according to the National Weather Service.

As a result, for the first time in a week no excessive heat warning -- issued by the weather service to indicate oppressive, health-threatening conditions -- was in force anywhere in Los Angeles County today, although such warnings were issued for desert areas in San Diego and Riverside counties.

Temperatures reached 100 in Glendora, 106 in Palmdale, 105 in Lancaster and Woodland Hills, 104 in Acton and Chatsworth, 102 in Saugus, 101 in Northridge and Van Nuys on Tuesday.

The California Independent System Operator, which manages the state's power grid, issued a Flex Alert -- a call for residents to voluntarily conserve power -- for today due to elevated power-use forecasts.

"Conservation is critical," it said in a statement, forecasting today's peak demand at 47,500 megawatts. No Flex Alert is planned for Wednesday, when the peak demand is projected at 45,000 megawatts and conservation will be "helpful, but not critical."

Wednesday's forecast highs include 103 in Lancaster and 102 in Palmdale, Saugus and Woodland Hills.

Hot temperatures will continue across inland portions of Southern California through the weekend, according to the National Weather Service.

The hot air mass over Southern California will cool only slightly over the next few days before warming again towards the end of the week and into the weekend.

Triple-digit high temperatures will still be common in the warmest inland locations, including the western San Fernando Valley, eastern San Gabriel Valley and foothills and Santa Clarita Valley. Afternoon temperatures are forecast to peak from the upper-90s to 104 and 102 to 108 in the Antelope Valley.